Straight and Narrow

 A slice family life

FAMILY life, as here viewed by playwright Jimmie Chinn, Is a series of confrontational crises.

Mainly they involve the matriarchal Mum - played amusingly but not always confidently by Liz Cole - and her son Bob, whose homosexual leanings she affects not to understand.

Richard . Casewell is clearly at home with the author's requirement that Bob should be on matey and confidential terms with the audience.

As his partner, Tim Williams comes persuasively to the task of showing us that this is a comedy that is not Intended to be laughter all the way.

There is a strong contribution from Briony Cook, as the percipient, persistent, pugnacious and pregnant Lois. Viv Cole, Richard Wharton and Jamie Thompson complete a company which generally keeps Paul Thomson's production going at an agreeable pace.

John Slim

Family drama on set

"IF your father were alive today he'd turn in his- grave," battleaxe Vera informs her family at regular intervals usually in the middle of one of their rows.

And this is one family with an awful lot to talk about.

'Put it this way, one daughter, Nona, is trying to come to terms with her husband leaving her for a woman who works in Boots. Another daughter, Lois, is expecting her fourth child and continues to smoke so much Vera fears "that baby'll be covered in soot".

And then there's son Bob. He runs, a kitchen business with Jeff. He also lives with Jeff. And as the play opens, he's away on holiday with Jeff.

And just in case I'm not dropping enough hints - one of the pictures hanging on the living room wall features "Two brothers dancing" in Vera's terms. But still she laments that her son should have married Sylvia Twine.

After, some effective scene setting and narration by Richard Casewell. as Bob the audience is warmed up. nicely to greet the skeletons, that are practically hammering on the doors of several closets.

All credit to director Paul Thomson for making the audience feel almost guilty' for eavesdropping on the neighbours.

Thanks, to. the technique of having Bob take us into his confidence with various asides out of earshot of the main, stage, we genuinely felt we'd been taken into his confidence and were part of the family summits unfolding before our eyes.

And although I feel the actor playing, Bob was the greatest triumph, it's testament to, the ability and timing of the rest of the cast. that they worked so seamlessly together they could easily, have been related!

Tina Faulkner